Dallas’ Rachel Lindsay Is the First Black Bachelorette

The bad news first: Rachel Lindsay, a Dallas attorney and fan favorite on this season of The Bachelor, is not going to accept the final rose from rustic boy band member Nick Viall. True love will have to wait.

The good news, particularly for people who live in Dallas and support diverse casting on reality television: Lindsay will be the first African-American star of The Bachelorette, according toseveral reports that will apparently be confirmed tonight on Jimmy Kimmel’s show. (Update: Confirmed.)

If our theories are correct, Rachel will be the first black contestant (male or female) to ever make the final four. She’s a poised, successful lawyer at Cooper & Scully, and she’s already garnered a loyal fan following. She’d make an incredible lead, and ABC would be crazy to miss this opportunity. During her one-on-one date in New Orleans on Monday night, she told the camera, “Because of what I do all day every, I can’t show emotion, and I can’t be weak. It’s been a long time since I’ve been vulnerable over somebody.” That’s next season’s intro reel right there.

We’re glad ABC was paying attention.

There are a few weeks left of this season of The Bachelor, but this feels like a spoiler worth knowing.